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"After going undrafted, former Rutgers fullback Joe Martinek said he was in
contact with Buccaneers – and former Rutgers – head coach Greg Schiano, but
chose the Giants because it "was the better fit for me."

Martinek, a Hopatcong naitive, said he didn't grow up a fan of any particular
NFL team, but his friends and family are big fans of the Giants and he views
being close to home as an advantage.

Now that he's got his chance, he's looking to make the most of it.

"I think my first impression was good," the converted fullback said. "I got
to get into the playbook -- the different terminologies are frustrating at times
but you got to get into the playbook, got to remember and just follow the
schedule and do whatever you're asked to do."

Martinek is one of eight undrafted free agent signings at rookie minicamp
this weekend and Gilbride said he projects the former tailback as a fullback,
though he maintained Martinek brings versatility to the table.

"That fullback position is so versatile depending on who it is that's
playing," Gilbride said. "But if he ever became the fullback, I think you would
probably expand the movement in terms of taking him out of the backfield and
putting him into that detached position that sometimes the tight ends will go to
and see if he can catch the ball and do some things."GIANTS' ROOKIE MINI-CAMP BEGINS WITH IMPRESSIVE SHOWING FROM RUEBEN RANDLE

"After one rookie camp practice, during which the players were not wearing
full pads, Tom Coughlin wasn’t ready to proclaim which players
stood out to him.

Though he did highlight the morning Rueben Randle had.

The team’s second-round pick, looked very athletic and polished this morning
working among fellow draft picks, undrafted free agents, rookie tryouts and
veteran hopefuls. He had a couple of drops but they were overshadowed by a nice
leaping catch near the sideline and a few other solid plays.

“I was very impressed by Randle out on the field this morning,” Coughlin
said. “But they’re all eager. That’s the good thing. You’re going to have to if
you’re NFL-ready.”

Randle’s leaping catch came on an intermediate out near the sideline. He also
beat CB Jayron Hosley, the team’s third-round pick, on a deep
go up the right sideline. Quarterback Ryan Perrilloux threw a
perfect ball on that play.

Plus, there was one play on which Randle did a good job of “stacking” the
cornerback after beating him. That means he beat the corner to the outside and
then worked away from the sideline to give the quarterback an easier throw.
That’s a skill Mario Manningham struggled to perfect, even
in Super Bowl XLVI.

Other highlights and notes:

--RB David Wilson (first round) looks as slithering as
advertising. He gets small to sneak into holes and makes quick cuts. He did try
to cut back one run to the outside when he saw there was nothing there. He’s
used to getting away with that in college. I’m sure that will be something
Coughlin and the coaching staff will have to work on with Wilson to let him know
when he can and, when he can’t, do it.

--TE Adrien Robinson showed his athleticism on one play this
morning. It was a quick hook over the middle, no more than a few yards off the
line. Tryout QB J.R. Suozzo (Merrimack), who had a rough
morning, threw a dart over the 6-4 Robinson’s head. I mean, no touch at all.
(I’m not trying to rip Suozzo, just setting the scene.) Robinson showed quick
reaction to leap and rise up for the catch. It was a glimpse of the athleticism
with which the Giants are enamored.

“His hands went up high fast and he made the really tough grab,” Coughlin
said. “It was a short-range throw but it got on him quickly and he was able to
react to it. That was a plus.”

--WR Damian Davis, a tryout from Mary Hardin-Baylor, made a
couple of nifty grabs, including one on a ball up the left sideline that looked
like a sure interception out of the QB’s hands. (I believe it was Suozzo but I
forgot to note it.) Davis worked from the outside of CB E.J.
Whitley, a veteran tryout, to make the grab. Whitley should’ve done a
better job of keeping his positioning inside Davis. It seemed secondary coach Peter Giunta was impressed with Davis beating his guys because
he sought out Davis after practice for what appeared to be a congratulatory
handshake.

--Former Florida DB Will Hill is here on a tryout basis. The
St. Peter’s Prep grad went undrafted
and unsigned last year because of plenty of baggage. Hill played in the
arena league last season. This morning, he jumped in front of a receiver during
individual drills but didn’t hold on. “You’ve got to catch that,” Giunta
said.

--Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is in mid-training-camp
form. When CB Brandon Bing jumped in front of Randle to knock
away a ball on a comeback route, Fewell yelled, “Bada Bing!” Bing, a former
Rutgers standout, was on the practice squad last year. As always, the guys who
have been around always seem to be so much more advanced than the rookies, for
obvious reasons. They just practice so much faster.

--A couple of good rushes off the edge for rookie tryout DE Lindsey
Witten (UConn). He got the corner on OT Brandon Mosley
(fourth-round pick), who looked a little sluggish coming out of his stance.
Mosley also jumped early on one play, as did OT Joel Reinders
(veteran free agent signed). It’s the first practice and they were jumpy. It
happens. Though that didn’t stop the coaches from getting on them.

--Coughlin said GM Jerry Reese told him all of the draft
picks are signed, or at least should be very shortly. Again, the only player
whose deal hadn’t yet been reported was DT Markus Kuhn (seventh
round). 1:30 p.m. UPDATE The Giants confirmed all of their picks have
signed. Kuhn, by the way, is not participating in rookie camp because of a
non-football leg laceration suffered recently."
##

The Star-Ledger's Mike Garafolo learned today from Rueben Randle's agent,
Kennard McGuire, the team has signed its second-round pick. That leaves
seventh-round choice Markus Kuhn as the lone unsigned Giants draft pick. But at
the rate in which the others have signed -- including
first-round pick David Wilson, who signed this morning -- expect the German
to agree to terms with the team soon enough.

We don't know the length of Randle's deal yet, but based on his slotting as
the 63rd overall selection in last month's draft, the wide receiver is due a
signing bonus of $834,132.

Drafted out of LSU, Randle was expected to be selected as early as the end of
the first round, but he plunged down to the Giants at the end of the second and
was the final green room invitee drafted at Radio City Music Hall.

Subject to sporadic quarterback play in college, Randle's numbers weren't
eye-popping. He declared for the NFL after a junior season in which he caught 53
passes for 917 yards and eight touchdowns -- all career highs by a large
margin."

"The simplified process of negotiating draft-pick contracts under the new
collective bargaining agreement has allowed the Giants to get most of their picks under
contract by the start of rookie minicamp.

Including their top pick.

The team has signed first rounder David Wilson to a four-year deal with a
team option for a fifth season, according
to ProFootballTalk.com. Wilson's agent, Joel Segal, confirmed his client has
signed.

Financial terms are not yet available. According to his slotting as the 32nd
overall pick, Wilson was in line to receive a signing bonus of about $3.3
million. But unlike the other picks, that bonus is more negotiable. At least
that's the way it was explained to me. I'll get you the full details when
they're available.

Wilson's signing means there's not yet word on deals for only two picks: wide
receiver Rueben Randle (second round) and defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (seventh
round). As of late last night, there was no agreement between the Giants and
Randle. It's unclear where the team is in the process with Kuhn.

All draft picks, even those who remain unsigned, can participate in rookie
minicamp, which runs from today through Sunday. The point at which unsigned
rookies can't partake in team activities is the start of training camp, though
the pace the team has set on signings so far means we're unlikely to get to that
point."

"Late on the night of July 29, hours before he was to report to his first NFL
training camp, Giants rookie fullback Henry Hynoski was wide awake. Nerves
didn’t keep him up, neither did illness.

Hynoski had a book in hand, cramming for the next morning’s exam.

“We had to report to training camp the following day and I was up until 2, 3
in the morning trying to learn the plays in my playbook,” Hynoski said recently
at an NFL Play 60 event in Manhattan. “I had to get up for practice three hours
later.”

Undrafted out of Pittsburgh, Hynoski had been uncertain of his football
future and trained on his own for months, the lockout eradicating the typical
transition for rookies. Hynoski, who went on to play in 12 regular-season games
and all four postseason contests, didn’t sign with the Giants until July 26 and
he had just three days to learn the thick instruction manual.

Hynoski and the rest of the 2011 rookie class went into their freshman
campaigns without the luxury of an NFL offseason, devoid of everything from the
annual rookie symposium and offseason team activities to simply meeting the
coaching staffs.

“I got to camp and my head was spinning,” said safety Tyler Sash, a Giants
sixth-round selection last year. “Not even knowing where to go, who to talk to
if I needed something was tough.”

This offseason is back to business as usual for the NFL and rookies are
reporting to customary rookie mini-camps across the league. This weekend, seven
2012 draft picks headlined by first-round choice David Wilson and a group of
undrafted rookies will report to East Rutherford for Giants rookie mini-camp to
begin the offseason.

Last July, 13 wide-eyed rookies — five of whom went undrafted — reported
straight to Giants training camp and made the roster. Ultimately, the
lower-round and undrafted rookies made the more significant impacts as the
Giants’ top selections did not perform up to expectations due to both
unfortunate injuries and the unprecedented circumstances.

Cornerback Prince Amukamara was the NFL’s final first-round pick to sign with
his team and two practices into his training camp he fractured a bone in his
left foot. The injury forced him to miss the Giants’ first nine regular-season
games.

After an interception in his debut against the Eagles, Amukamara went on to
struggle, ultimately getting benched against the Redskins in Week 15.

The disappointment trickled down to other draft choices.

Second-round pick Marvin Austin was sidelined for the season after tearing
his pectoral muscle during the preseason and third-round selection Jerrel
Jernigan didn’t catch a pass at wide receiver. The team’s fourth-round choice,
offensive tackle James Brewer, was never active for a game.

This offseason, of course, is lockout-free and the Giants expect the class,
in turn, to contribute more in 2012 after a season, postseason and offseason, in
that order, under their belts.

“It’s really huge because obviously with the lockout last year it hurt us as
rookies,” linebacker Greg Jones, a 2011 sixth-round selection, said. “It did. I
think all of us needed the extra learning and now a lot of us got thrown into
the fire early. So now with that and learning from the ground up again, it’s
been good. So I feel very confident going into next year.”

With rookie minicamp set to begin on Friday, the Giants have reached an
agreement on a contract with another one of their draft picks: cornerback Jayron
Hosley.

The team's third-round pick will sign a four-year deal, according to someone
informed of the progress of negotiations. The person requested anonymity because
the Giants haven't announced the contract yet.

Based on his slotting as the 94th overall pick, Hosley's deal will include a
signing bonus of $515,000.

Hosley, who left Virginia Tech after his junior season, had three
interceptions last season after recording nine as a sophomore. He and the Giants
said a big reason for the dip was because teams didn't throw his way that often.
In fact, Hosley said he left school early because college football was getting
"too easy" for him.

Hosley had concussion issues last season and failed a drug test at the
Scouting Combine but the Giants weren't concerned about either apparent red
flag. Hosley said he's learned his lesson from the failed test.

"Limas Sweed never imagined that he'd be here one day, on a football field
with a group of kids, most of whom won't ever get any closer to an NFL game. He
was once supposed to be the big-play receiver that was going to transform the
Pittsburgh Steelers offense.

Now he's just a 27-year-old tryout at the Giants' rookie minicamp this
weekend, two years removed from his last NFL game, hoping that someone will give
him one more shot.

"I've been playing football all my life," Sweed said. "And when you've lost
something like football, you don't let it go. You do what you have to do. That's
putting the work in, overtime, being here at a rookie minicamp and just having
fun and starting all over again.

"By whatever means it takes to get back, I'm willing to do it."

Sweed isn't alone in his battle for one of the last two roster spots on the
defending Super Bowl champs. He's joined at this camp by Jamaal Jackson, an
eight-year veteran who spent five seasons as the Eagles' starting center, trying
to see for himself if he has anything left. And there are players like safety
Will Hill, a former New Jersey schoolboy sensation whose hype turned out to be
bigger than his game.

Sweed had plenty of hype, too, when the Steelers drafted him in the second
round out of Texas in 2008. But he caught just six passes as a rookie, dropped
plenty more, and quickly was labeled a "bust". He caught just one pass in 2009.
Then he tore his Achilles in a 2010 spring minicamp and his shoulder prior to
training camp last year.

That was not the way he was expecting his NFL career to work out at all.

"Obviously when you're drafted high there's a lot of expectations," Sweed
said. "You would like to stay injury free and for things to work out
differently. But injuries took their toll and brought me to a different place.
They brought me here."

Sweed is still just six months removed from surgery to repair a torn labrum
in his shoulder, but he insists he's fully healthy. He's worked out for the
Bengals and Bears but got no offers, and he's probably a longshot to get a deal
from the Giants, too. But he insists "I'm still the same" player, "just probably
a lot wiser" after all he's been through the last few years.

If that's not enough to land him a deal with the Giants, Sweed said he has
three more workouts scheduled in the coming weeks. He also has no plans to give
up chasing the dream that once slipped away.

"I'm still young. I still love this game. I still want to play," Sweed said.
"So we're going to see where it takes us. I definitely believe if I keep pushing
at it and don't give up, somewhere it'll work out. Somewhere it'll work out.
Never give up."

"In the dog days of last summer as training camp opened, Kevin Gilbride was
piecing together an offense that was missing five of its starters. Then this
offseason he lost a running back, receiver, right tackle and (to injury) two of
his tight ends.

So yes, the Giants offensive coordinator was pretty
happy when the Giants used five of their seven draft picks this year on
offensive players. And so far Gilbride likes what he sees.

“It’s
definitely needed,” Gilbride said after Day 1 of the Giants’ rookie minicamp.
“We lost a lot of guys. We lost five starters the year before on offense. You
lose a couple other guys (this year). You certainly need to start to replenish
the troops. “

And on Day 1, it looks like the troops will be well
replenished. Running back David Wilson, the Giants’ first-round pick, showed off
his speed and explosiveness in the two practices the team had on Friday.
Receiver Rueben Randle, taken in the second round, showed potential as a deep
threat. And tight end Adrien Robinson flashed some of the athletic ability that
had GM Jerry Reese labeling him “The JPP of tight ends.”

“It looks like
you have an explosive guy in the running back,” Gilbride said. “And what you see
on film, it looked like you had a receiver that is capable of making some deep
catches, running by some people.”

It’s not easy to tell much about
running backs (and linemen and anyone else that plays a high-contact position)
in non-contact drills. Quarterbacks and receivers, though, are much easier to
evaluate. And on Day 1, Randle looked “smooth” to Gilbride, though he said the
LSU product was “obviously thinking … so you don’t see maybe the explosiveness
that we expect to see and know we’ll see down the road. But in terms of going
deep and just going down the field, he looked pretty good and did the things
that we needed him to do, which was go catch the ball when we threw it to
him.

“As you guys have seen us unfold with those other two guys (Hakeem
Nicks and Victor Cruz), they’re intermediate (receivers),” Gilbride added. “
Certainly Hakeem can go deep, but you need that third component so that when
people start skewing and clamping down on Cruz and Nicks, you got a guy that, if
it’s one-on-one, has the ability to get over the top and hurt people like
Manningham did. “

From what Gilbride could see in the first two
practices, Wilson has some big-play potential, too.

“He looks very fast,
which we knew going in,” Gilbride said. “But to actually see it on the field, it
was- I’m trying to think of the right word- encouraging, exciting. Both of those
things seem to come to mind. He looks like if he has a hole, he’ll hit it and
has a chance to do some damage.”

As for Robinson, he d***led with a
couple of outstanding catches during the two practices, though even he admitted
his route-running needed some work. That figures, considering that while he was
at Cincinnati he wasn’t often a focal point of their passing game.

“I’m
sure he’s starting a little further back, but he looks like a big guy that can
run,” Gilbride said. “He made a great catch on the last play. Of course he ran
the wrong way. He was supposed to be going inside and stole the curl from the Z,
but that’s kind of what I think we’re going to be battling for a
while.

“The good thing is you just like to see a guy that has the
physical potential to do some things. He looks like he has that. How quickly he
can assimilate our offense, how quickly he can recognize what defenses are doing
and make the appropriate and correct adjustments, that’s a long way off. I don’t
expect that to happen (immediately). But I did want to see a guy that could run
a little bit. He looks like he can do that.”

As for Reese labeling him
“the JPP of tight ends,” Gilbride said “That’s quite an endorsement, but added
“I’m not sure I’m ready” to go that far.

“I know [Jerry Reese] just said
that and I’ll live by his critique, but he does look like he’s got a lot of
physical ability. But he’s just real, real raw.”

"All seven members of the Giants' 2012 draft class have signed their
deals.

You already knew that five of the seven picks were done, but after the first
practice of rookie minicamp Tom Coughlin confirmed that all seven were either
signed or about to sign their deals. That includes second-round receiver Rueben
Randle and seventh-round defensive tackle Markus Kuhn.

And yes, that is a new record for the Giants, who have never had all seven of
their draft picks signed this early. Welcome to the wonderful world of the new
Collective Bargaining Agreement with the rookie salary cap that slots salaries
and bonuses and leaves little, if any, room for negotiations.

In other words: Rookies get what they get and they don't get upset.

Well, maybe they get upset, but there's nothing they can do about that
anymore.

***

The official UDFA list

The Giants announced the signings of eight undrafted free agents -- not the
10 that scouting director Marc Ross said they signed in the hour after the NFL
draft. The list includes:

"The Giants reloaded their offense during the NFL draft, and they’ll get their
first look at how much the new kids can really help when they take the field for
the start of rookie minicamp on Friday.

Jerry Reese said it was
just a coincidence, but the GM used five of his seven selections on offensive
players, including two expected to have an immediate impact — first-round
running back David Wilson and
second-round receiver Rueben Randle. They
were scheduled to arrive at the Meadowlands on Thursday night, along with the
rest of the draft picks, 10 undrafted free agents and a large group of tryout
players.

They’ll be on the field for two practices during each of the next two
days.

“We drafted the best guys,” Reese said after the draft. “That’s what our
thinking was. It just so happened that some of the best guys were offensive guys
this time. We just try to go in there and get the best players, and this time
there were more offensive players than defensive players — simple as that.”

Maybe so, but Wilson and Randle are expected to fill two big holes in the
Giants’ offense. Wilson is slated to replace Brandon Jacobs as
the No. 2 running back, and Randle should step in for Mario Manningham
as the third receiver. Tight end Adrien Robinson,
the Giants’ fourth-round pick who was dubbed by Reese as “the JPP of tight
ends,” in reference to the potential of Giants defensive end Jason
Pierre-Paul, also could compete for a big role this season.

The competition for those positions will begin on Friday morning. As Randle
said via Twitter, “Today starts a new journey in my life.”

GIANTS SIGN PICKS
The Giants agreed to terms on four-year deals
with two more draft picks on Thursday — CB Jayron Hosley (third round)
and OL Brandon Mosley (fourth). They have now signed four of their seven
picks, including TE Adrien Robinson (fourth) and OL Matt McCants
(sixth). . . . OL Rich Ohrnberger , a Long Island native (East Meadow)
who spent the last three seasons with the Patriots, will try out for the Giants
this weekend."http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giant

"So far, it has been two weeks of accepting congratulations and thinking about
entering the NFL as a member of the Super Bowl champion Giants. For the team’s
seven draft picks, the real work begins Friday at the start of a three-day
rookie minicamp designed to be the first glimpse of what their professional
lives will be about.

“Today starts a new journey in my life,’’ receiver Rueben Randle yesterday
wrote on his Twitter account.

Randle, a second-round pick from LSU, and the other draft picks and undrafted
free agents spent Thursday getting physicals at the Giants’ facility. They will
be on the field for four practices in the next three days.
“Start my first JOB today,’’ running back David Wilson tweeted. “Y’all ready
to watch me work??”

Of course, these practices are not open to the public, but soon enough,
Giants fans will get a look at Wilson, the first-round pick from Virginia Tech
who figures to be the second part of the 1-2 punch in the backfield behind Ahmad
Bradshaw.

High-profile picks such as Wilson and Randle will challenge for immediate
playing time, but the majority of the participants in this camp will be looking
to make an impression in order to stick around. There are expected to be 10
signed undrafted free agents on hand — the Giants have confirmed Rutgers
fullback Joe Martinek and safety Janzen Jackson of McNeese State — as well as
players attending the camp on a tryout basis.

Some of these undrafted players are likely to find their way onto the roster
— or at least the practice squad — because, despite the odds stacked against
them, it almost always works out that way.

A year ago, fullback Henry Hynoski and linebackers Mark Herzlich and Spencer
Paysinger went undrafted, yet were impressive enough in rookie camp, veteran
minicamp and throughout training camp to make the final roster.

The Giants agreed to terms with two more draft picks, cornerback Jayron
Hosley (third round out of Virginia Tech) and offensive lineman Brandon Mosley
(fourth round out of Auburn). Both will sign four-year contracts for the league
minimums, with Hosley getting a signing bonus of $515.000 and Mosley getting a
bonus of $300,584."

"There was no way Tom Coughlin was going to offer a detailed run-down of what
he saw during the first morning of rookie mini-camp, mainly because the veteran
coach is never one to jump to any conclusions after such a cursory look.

Coughlin, though, on Friday did admit “I was very impressed with Randle out
on the field this morning’’ and there’s little doubt the entire coaching staff,
if they weren’t already excited, enjoyed the first look at Rueben Randle, the
second-round draft pick from LSU.

The highlight of the session was Randle at 6-foot-2 getting a step on
third-round pick Jayron Hosley, the 5-10 cornerback from Virginia Tech, during
the 7 on 7 drill. Quarterback Ryan Perrilloux hit Randle in stride and he made
an over-the-shoulder catch deep downfield.

It was not the only eye-catching moment for Randle, whose production suffered
this past season primarily because of LSU’s struggles at the quarterback
position. On the first pass thrown to Randle, cornerback Brandon Bing from
Rutgers anticipated the throw and knocked the ball away. Next, Randle bobbled a
pass out of bounds. After that, Randle caught everything thrown his way,
including a leaping grab over San Diego rookie cornerback Al-Rilwan Adeyemi.

The other pass-catcher the Giants took in the draft, tight end Adrien
Robinson, showed quick hands while reaching up to haul in a short throw. “He
made the really tough grab,’’ Coughlin said. “It was a short-range throw but it
was on him quickly and he was able to react to it. That was a
plus.’’

"David Wilson arrived in North Jersey ready to show off his wheels among other
parts of his game during the Giants’ rookie minicamp this weekend.

Just don’t expect the former Virginia Tech running back and recent
first-round draft pick of the reigning Super Bowl champions to be taking his
souped-up ride to the streets around the team’s practice facility any time
soon.

"It took a pretty big makeover," Wilson recalled, referring to the vehicle he
refurbished after purchasing from a neighbor on a $2,000 loan from his parents.
"I don’t think that car’s going to work up in New York, though, so it’s probably
not coming up with me. Probably, better it stays home."

Wilson and the rest of the Giants’ rookies will hit the field for the first
time today with two scheduled practices in front of the coaching staff they plan
on impressing in a quest not only for roster spots, but eventually playing
time.

Those participating will include the team’s seven 2012 draft picks, in
addition to recently signed undrafted free agents such as former Rutgers
fullback Joe Martinek and plenty of yet-to-be-revealed tryouts hoping to make an
impression.

"Clearing the mind. Next chapter of my life starts tomorrow," Martinek wrote
in a tweet.

The drafting of Wilson, wide receiver Rueben Randle, defensive back Jayron
Hosley and tight end Adrien Robinson filled significant holes for the Giants, in
a sense replacing the departed Brandon Jacobs, Mario Manningham and Aaron Ross,
in addition to an injured Jake Ballard.

"We drafted the best guys," general manager Jerry Reese said in his
post-draft news conference. "That’s what our thinking was. It just so happened
that some of the best guys were offensive guys this time. We just try to go in
there and get the best players, and this time there were more offensive players
than defensive players — simple as that."http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/football/

Unlike regular training camp, this mini-camp is closed to the public.
However, the reporting pool allowed to attend seemed to agree that after a slow
start, Randle began to find his groove.

He wasn’t the only one. Reports indicate that Adrien
Robinson took steps towards subduing the notion that he was a reach
selection. While critics fear that he is a one-dimensional player and will be
unable to serve as a receiving threat, Robinson made an impressive grab on a
poorly thrown ball this morning.

The starting job opposite Hakeem Nicks is Randle’s to lose and none of his
true competition was present today. Robinson, on the other hand, had to go toe
to toe with 6’6 Larry Donnell. Donnell, a free agent with a years experience,
managed to make the Giants.com
photo gallery after hauling in a nifty reception.

David
Wilson also showed some eye catching agility and cut moves according to
those in attendance.

Not all the news was positive. Markus Kuhn will miss all of mini-camp thanks
to a non-football
injury that he recently suffered. He is currently dealing with a laceration on
his knee.

Also, Jayron Hosely required attention from the trainers this afternoon. Inside Football’s Patricia Traina noted that the injury appeared to be a hamstring issue.
However, Hosely began to jog near the end of practice and the ailment may have
been as minor as cramps.

Check back tomorrow for an in depth review of the opening mini-camp
practices."

"The New York
Giants have rounded up their final rookie, signing seventh-round pick Markus
Kuhn, defensive tackle out of NC State, to an undisclosed deal.

Following their first practice on Friday, head coach Tom Coughlin told
reporters he had been informed all seven picks had been signed. The Giants later confirmed that via Twitter.

Because of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), rookies are now
able to be signed much more seamlessly. There's no longer a threat of a holdout
because their contracts are pre-determined. As a result, all draftees for Big
Blue are now under contract long before they have ever been previously.

"I don't really set myself too many long-term goals, I always say if you work
hard, good things are going to happen. As of right now, the next goal is to get
there, be good in rookie minicamp and work hard during the strength and
conditioning. Hopefully, I'll get a chance and make the 53-man roster," Kuhn
said."

Based on where he was picked in the 2012 NFL Draft, Randle will receive a signing bonus of
$834,132. Additional financial details and length of his contract have not yet
been made public.

With Randle now signed, it leaves defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (7th round –
239th overall) as the only draftee unsigned or without an agreement. However,
it's safe to assume he'll be under contract by the time rookie mini-camp lets
out on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Randle was receiving rave reviews for his performance at the
morning practice. After an initial bobble on his first pass, he stole the show
making several leaping and acrobatic grabs. He reinforced the sentiment that
he's NFL ready and
stood out above the rest of the rookies. The common phrase was "Giants fans are
going to love this guy when they see him."

"New York
Giants rookie mini-camp is now underway, and in addition to their draftees
and undrafted rookie free agents, Big Blue has invited several veteran players
in for tryouts as well. Among them are former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Limas
Sweed, Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jamaal
Jackson, New England Patriots offensive lineman Rich
Ohrnberger and Florida defensive back Will Hill, who most recently played in
the Arena Football
League.

"There has already been a decent amount of talk surrounding Rueben
Randle’s potential role in the 2012 New York Giants offense. Will he
be able to step in immediately as one of the top three “starters?” Will he need
to wait his turn behind Domenik Hixon or Ramses Barden?

The answers are far from here. But tomorrow, Randle will take the first step
towards uncovering them when he takes place in the inaugural day of rookie
mini-camp. If Randle is unable to earn what is technically the second spot on
the depth chart, as New York plans to use Cruz in the slot as often as
possible, he isn’t expected to fall farther than fourth.

When asked about his new toy, General Manager Jerry Reese remarked, “He looks
like a big, pro wide receiver out there, the way he moves around. “I think he's
going to be a quick fit into the offense because of how he plays. He's big and
can post guys up.”

Randle isn’t the only rookie with the potential for a prominent spot in the
offense this season.

Running back David
Wilson will be looking to turn heads this weekend. Wilson, is projected as a
future feature back for the Giants and could even make his debut as a starter in
2012 should Ahmad Bradshaw once again succumb to injury.

Taken in the fourth round, tight end Adrien
Robinson will have a spot on this team as well. How large a role he will be
given is yet to be seen.

Like Jake Ballard, Robinson will not be entering the NFL boasting a
stellar receiving stat sheet from his time in college. In his most productive
season, Robinson notched a paltry 12 receptions for 183 yards and a respectable
three TDs.

Nick Provo, a TE out of Syracuse that went undrafted, hauled in 51 receptions
in his best season and accrued 537 yards. He found the end zone seven times.
Provo was signed by the Ravens as a free agent.

So why would Reese pounce on a player like Robinson as early as the fourth
round when Provo and others of his caliber were still on the board? The answer
lies in the nature of the current Giants predicament at the TE position.

On the morning of February 5th, the Giants were not in position to make major
changes at the position. By February 6th, they were down to one veteran TE that
was projected to be healthy in late 2012.

The addition of Martellus Bennett allowed the Giants to fill the role of top
receiving TE. What they needed now was a blocker to compliment Bear Pascoe. At
6’4 264 lbs, Robinson is one of the shorter TEs on the roster. However, despite
his height he is listed as only one pound lighter than Bennett who is among the
tallest.

His physical style of play and bulky frame is what attracted the Giants to a
player that many feel was a reach pick.

While he is the likely candidate to beat out Christian Hopkins for the final
TE spot on the final roster thanks to his blocking potential, don’t rule out a
possible evolution for Robinson. It is worth noting that in Ballard’s most
productive collegiate season, he hauled in only two more receptions than
Robinson and accounted for 33 less receiving yards. He did not score a TD in
either his junior or senior season.

Ballard’s lack of receiving success in college translated to 38 receptions
for 604 yards and four TDs in his first year as a starter.

Will Robinson be able to find a new gear in the NFL? Will Randle
and Wilson continue to match or exceed early expectations? Things will become
clearer tomorrow."http://www.giants101.com/

"'Frisky' might be the best word to use to describe the way first-round draft
choice David Wilson
looked during Friday afternoon's practice, the second of the 2012 New
York Giants rookie mini-camp.

Let's see. There was a somersault after a short catch-and-run. There was some
sort of odd slithering on the ground manuever after a run down the field. More
importantly, the running back the Giants are hoping will complement Ahmad
Bradshaw showed some explosion and big-play potential during the afternoon
workout.

"He looks pretty fast, which we knew going in. To actually see it on the
field was encouraging, exciting. Both of those things seem to come to mind,"
said Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride. "He looks like if he's got a
hole he'll hit it and have a chance to do some damage."

Wilson, 5-foot-9, 205 pounds was selected by the Giants 32nd overall.

"He's not a big guy so you would think he's a finesse guy, but that's not
what I saw," Gilbride said. "He's a very determined runner. He's fighting for
every yard, breaks a lot of tackles. Probably breaks more tackles than you think
he'd be capable of just looking at him."

Practice Notes

[*]Third-round pick Jayron
Hosley limped off the field after hitting the ground during a passing drill
with an apparent hamstring injury. Hosley was jogging by the end of practice,
though. If any word on Hosley is available Saturday I will have that for
you.[*]Gilbride said the Giants are using Joe Martinek,
the undrafted free agent from Rutgers, as a fullback for now. Martinek is only
224 pounds, though, so lead-blocking would not seem to be his forte.[*]Gilbride, as was head coach Tom Coughlin
earlier in the day, seemed impressed by wide receiver Rueben Randle, the team's
second-round selection. "He looks smooth," Gilbride said. "You need that third
component ... a guy that has the ability to get over the top and hurt people
like Manningham did. He looks like he has the potential to do that."[*]There are two practices on Saturday that are
open to reporters, but again closed to the public."[/list]GIANTS' MINI-CAMP NOTES: UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT BIOS

"The New York Giants
have eight undrafted free agents signed as they conduct rookie mini-camp this
weekend. They are allowed 10.

DAVID DOUGLAS, WR, 6-0, 206, ARIZONA
Played in 49 games with 23
starts for Arizona...Caught 151 passes for 1,542 yards (10.2-yard average) and
11 touchdowns with a long reception of 44 yards...As a senior in 2011, Douglas
played in 12 games with nine starts as the Wildcats' slot receiver and had
career-high totals of 65 receptions for 666 yards and four scores...In his
junior season, Douglas played in 13 games with 10 starts and caught 52 passes
for 515 yards and five scores...In 2009, played in 11 games with four starts and
had 31 receptions for 320 yards and two scores...All-District player at North
High School in McKinney, Texas...Communications major...Born June 27,
1989.

JULIEN TALLEY, WR, 6-1, 199, MASSACHUSETTS
Played in 45
games at UMass...Caught 162 passes for 2,090 yards (12.9-yard average) and 11
touchdowns with a long catch of 55 yards...As a senior in 2011, played in 11
games and caught a career-high 60 passes for 759 yards and four touchdowns...The
previous season, Talley had 56 receptions for 747 yards and a career-best six
touchdowns...Caught 28 passes in 2009 and 18 as a redshirt freshman in
2008...Also had 12 rushing attempts for 152 yards with a long run of 69 yards,
25 punt returns for 252 yards and 16 kickoff returns for 286 yards...College
teammate of Victor
Cruz...Sociology major...First-team All-South Jersey at Winslow High
School...Born June 9, 1989.

JOE MARTINEK, FB, 5-11, 224,
RUTGERS
Played in 49 games at Rutgers, where he was both a running back
and a fullback...Rushed for 1,770 yards on 391 carries (4.5-yard average) and 17
touchdowns and caught 46 passes for 448 yards and a score...After redshirt
season in 2007, Martinek rushed for 404 yards on 76 carries (a career-high
5.3-yard average) and four scores in 2008...Had his most productive year as a
runner the following season, when he had 206 carries for 967 yards (4.7-yard
average) and nine touchdowns...Had a career-high 147 yards at Maryland
(9/26)...In 2010, was plagued by ankle injury but rushed for 276 yards and four
touchdowns on 85 carries...Switched to fullback in 2011 and played in 13 games
with eight starts and rushed for 123 yards on 24 carries and caught a
career-high 27 passes for 262 yards and a score...Played at Hopatcong High
School in New Jersey...Was named the 2006 Gatorade New Jersey State High School
Player of the Year... Finished high school career as the all-time leader in New
Jersey history with 7,589 rushing yards and 80 touchdowns and appeared in the
Jan. 11, 2007 issue of the Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd."...Martinek
also won the state title in the javelin throw...Criminal justice major...Born
Feb. 8, 1989.

STEPHEN GOODIN, OL, 6-6, 308,
NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
Three-year starter...Played left guard in 2008 and 2009
and left tackle in 2011...Took a medical redshirt in 2010 after suffering an
injury in fall camp...In 2011, was an All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
first-team pick...Team co-captain helped the Lopers average 39.5 points and 519
yards a game...Reserve guard and tackle in 2007 after 2006 redshirt
season...Chemistry major...All-State tight end at Hastings High School in
Nebraska...Born Aug. 25, 1988.

ADEWALE OJOMO, DE, 6-3, 255,
MIAMI
Played in 35 games with 14 starts in a three-season career at
Miami, where he had 79 tackles (42 solo), 9.5 sacks and 16.0 tackles for
losses...As a junior in 2011, switched to defensive end from tackle and played
in 11 games with seven starts...Was credited with 19 tackles (nine solo), 3.5
tackles for losses and 1.5 sacks...In 2010, played in 13 games with four starts
and had career-high totals of 38 tackles (21 solo) and 5.0 sacks...Did not play
in 2009 after having jaw surgery in the preseason...As a redshirt freshman in
2008, Ojomo played in 11 games with three starts and had 22 tackles (12 solo)
with 3.0 sacks...Posted a career-high six tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble
against Wake Forest...Criminal justice major...Played at Hialeah High School in
Florida, where he was a linebacker for two seasons before switching to defensive
end...Born Nov. 11, 1988.

MATTHEW BROHA, DE, 6-4, 255, LOUISIANA
TECH
Started all 50 games in which he played at Louisiana Tech...Finished
career with 152 tackles (80 solo), 22.0 sacks (second in school history) and 32
tackles for losses...In 2011, was named first team All-WAC after totaling 45
tackles (25 solo) with 9.5 tackles for a losses, including 7.5 sacks, two forced
fumbles and two pass break-ups...Second-team All-WAC in 2010, when he had a
career-high 9.0 sacks among his 45 tackles...Had 36 tackles and 5.0 sacks in
2009 and 27 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2008...Redshirted in 2007...Played at
Catholic High School in Baton Rouge...Born June 6, 1989.

JOJO NICOLAS,
S, 6-0, 196, MIAMI
Played in 50 games at Miami, where he had 141 tackles
(76 solo) and three interceptions...In 2011, started all 12 games and finished
third on the team with 66 tackles (37 solo) and led the team with two
interceptions... Received the team's Melching Leadership Award...In 2010,
started 10 games at safety and had 36 tackles (16 solo)...Played three games and
had 10 tackles (three solo) in 2009 before sitting out the rest of the season
and earning a medical redshirt...In 2008, played in 11 games with eight starts
and had 28 tackles (20 solo), including a career-high seven at Georgia Tech...As
a freshman in 2007, Nicolas played in 11 games, mainly on special teams...Picked
up first career interception in first game of the season vs. Marshall...Played
wide receiver and defensive back at Homestead High School in Florida...Criminal
justice major...Born March 3, 1989.

JANZEN JACKSON, S, 5-10, 189,
MCNEESE STATE
Jackson played 2 seasons at Tennessee before finishing his
career at McNeese State...Played in 33 games with 26 starts - 22 at free safety
and four at cornerback and totaled 137 tackles (88 solo), two forced fumbles,
one fumble recovery, 21 pass break-ups and eight interceptions for 239 yards in
returns, including an 84-yarder for a touchdown in his final game...At
Tennessee, played in 23 games with 22 starts and 106 tackles (66 solo), six
interceptions and two sacks...In 2011, he joined the McNeese State team late,
but played in 10 games with four starts...Was credited with 31 tackles (22
solo), a forced fumble, seven pass deflections and two interceptions...In his
final season at Tennessee in 2010,

“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.” MB Rule # 1